Photo (from left): Student Body Co-Presidents Bryan Zhao ’27 and Renee You ’27

On September 7, the Peddie community gathered outside Ayer Memorial Chapel to mark the beginning of the school’s 163rd academic year with Convocation. The crisp morning brought together a student body of 545, including 157 members of the Class of 2027. 

Student Body Co-Presidents Renee You ’27 and Bryan Zhao ’27 welcomed new and returning students and ushered in a year of self-discovery for Peddie. They shared that passion is the driving force behind learning more about one’s true self, even if the journey may seem difficult. Finding that passion, however, requires keeping an open mind.

“To find your passion is to swap comfort for curiosity,” shared Zhao. He encouraged his peers to use this academic year to take on new challenges or explore a new activity of interest. “Never acted before? Join the musical. Never held a baton? Sign up for the 100 meter relay.” 

You reminded students that passion “takes on many forms” apart from activities on campus, sharing that simply being involved within the local community may ignite a spark of passion for future endeavors. “Every day is a new opportunity to search for our calling,” she said. 

Peddie’s Head of School Jim Hamilton echoed the student leaders’ remarks, sharing his own hopes for students to collaborate and approach each new day at Peddie with curiosity for what’s possible, gratitude for those around them and the willingness to contribute to the on-campus and surrounding community. 

“Our motto tells us that we finish our labors to begin them anew,” he said. “Today is one of those moments. We begin anew and we do it together.” 

Following the remarks, faculty members presented academic and citizenship awards to students for outstanding contributions during the 2025-26 school year.

Swetland Honor Cup given to the member of the freshman class who has made the greatest contribution to the school: Riley Allen ’29

Potter Cup to those students who demonstrate strength of character, leadership, citizenship and scholarship: Samantha Forte ’27

Wintersteen Math Award (Precalculus): Ethan Fan ’29 and Cooper Manning ’27

Christensen Cup for outstanding work in U.S. History: Bryan Zhao ’27

Doherty Prize for outstanding sophomore research paper: Maitreyi Vaidya ’28

Chinese: Jonathan Koo ’27

Latin: Yishan (Dora) Shen ’27

French: Freja Jensen Pederson ’27

Spanish: Samantha Forte ’27

Miller Reading Prize for demonstrating the greatest progress in English during the 2025-26 academic year, 9th grade: Raven Sargeant ’29 and Jordan Bennett ’29

Miller Reading Prize, 10th grade: Marley Stahl ’28 and Ethan Nelson ’28

Miller Reading Prize, 11th grade: Anthony Kanis ’27

English department award for completing the most outstanding work in English during junior year: Aria Shi ’27

The Spirit of the Arts Award: Tsoi Tsit (Agnes) Yung ’29